More than twelve years passed from the day Theodore had arrived in the realm of the Goddesses. He grew up knowing nothing outside of Bastet’s domain, living with the Goddess herself and around a hundred retainers in her service. Her domain was wide, though not boundless, dominated by a white sandstone palace where Theo spent most of his time. Cats great and small wandered freely around Bastet’s domain, the favorite creatures of the Goddess, but aside from them, it was rare for guests to enter the palace.
Thus a remarkable sight could be found on that day when a woman with long, flowing golden hair, strode to the gates of the palace. Gold adorned much of what she bore: a gold-tipped spear, golden trim of an aqua-blue breastplate, and strands of gold woven into her royal blue skirt which trailed along the ground as she marched. She entered the halls of Bastet, and found the servants of her household lining the carpet, bowing reverently to greet their rare guest.
“Frigga!” Bastet called from her throne. The Goddess of Life leapt down from her throne, smiling warmly. “How long has it been, dear sister?”
“Too long, Bastet,” the Goddess of Peace said, returning her sister’s smile. The two women approached each other and embraced. “But why have you summoned me?”
Bastet looked embarrassed, her cat ears turning outward. “I have… committed a transgression.”
Frigga’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “What did you do?”
“Come,” Bastet said. “I’ll show you.”
The two Goddesses went through the palace, coming to a balcony overlooking the broad courtyard, a green and pleasant menagerie adorned with tropical plants. From that garden came a voice wholly strange to the Goddess of Peace.
“Yeah, let’s go!” The two Goddesses watched as a tiger leapt out of some bushes, a boy riding it happily.
“Bastet!” Frigga hissed. “How could…”
“You think I don’t know what I have done!?” Bastet whispered back angrily, eager not to draw the boy’s attention. Frigga seized her sister by the arm and dragged her back indoors.
“Explain yourself,” Frigga said sternly.
“His name is Theodore. He arrived in the womb of a woman who ascended to our realm. She was sent because she was dying in childbirth. She was half into Hel’s domain when she arrived, and I could not spare her. But I saved him.” The look on her face conveyed the unspoken to Peace, that she could not abandon an infant life, or consign it to destruction.
“To destroy him may have been just, if not to your liking,” Frigga said. “One life lost upon that day could spare many tomorrow. If you would mate with him…”
“I would never!” Bastet said. She paused, wringing her hands. “But that doesn’t mean he isn’t constantly on my mind. There are a few years yet before he reaches full manhood, but he has already crossed the threshold into adolescence. Already I have caught him gazing longingly at some of my handmaids.”
“And this is why you have summoned me,” Frigga said, gazing at Bastet with new understanding.
“Yes. I have raised him as my own, I do not want him to perish even if his destruction would leave me with child.”
“Mortal man may couple with the divine, but only at the cost of his life. With your child’s aid, you could rule,” Frigga said, almost to herself. “Truly you are the Goddess of Life.”
“But I do not know how long I can resist the temptation,” Bastet said. “He must be returned to his own kind.”
“The Midgard Portal?” Frigga mused. “It has been long since that was last used. Any journey there could not pass unmarked.”
“The only alternative is conflict. Either now…” Bastet looked back towards the garden, “or later.”
“And you trust me more than yourself in this matter?”
“Yes,” Bastet replied. “We’re both true to our dominions, but the shadow of temptation has not yet fallen over you.”
“You make a good point,” Frigga said. “But before I take him, how much does he know of the situation?”
“Nothing,” Bastet replied, her ears again shifting sheepishly. “I have hidden him from you and the others. He knows that there are other Goddesses, and lands beyond my own, but he has never traveled beyond my savannah. Though his instincts turn his gaze towards my women, he knows nothing of mating, though he knows much about other matters of my craft.”
Several hours later, two figures could be seen striding through the golden grass of Bastet’s savannah. Frigga could hardly be seen at a distance, the color of her hair and her raiment blended so harmoniously with the grass.
“So am I gonna get to live with you now?” Theo asked. He was half-running, to try and keep up with Frigga’s long strides. Bastet had done little more beyond introducing her child to the Peace Goddess, telling him that he needed to go with her, and giving him one lingering hug. Frigga admired her sister’s strength in many ways, not the least of which was the reserved way she said farewell to her adopted son. One way or another, she was not going to see him again.
“No, Theodore,” Frigga said. “You’re returning to your home.”
“But the palace is my home,” Theo said. “I know I’m a mortal, but so were the other girls that lived with me and Bastet.”
“Right, girls,” Frigga said. “This world is only for girls. You don’t belong here. But that’s not a bad thing,” she added after a moment. “You’ll have a whole new world to explore, lots of new people to meet.”
“But I have that here,” Theo replied. “Bastet never let me leave the savannah, I’ve never got to meet any of the other goddesses or see their lands. I don’t even know how many of you there are…” he added as that fact dawned upon him. “How many other goddesses are there?”
“Six,” Frigga said, increasing her pace in hope that the boy would soon become winded and unable to ask questions. “But with luck, you’ll never meet them.”
“What’s wrong with the other Goddesses?”
Frigga thought for a moment, picking her words carefully. “The others would want to take you to their homes and never let you leave.”
“Why would they want to do that?”
“Because you’re the only boy here. You’re… unique. We like to compete with each other.”
“Well, Bastet got me first. Why can’t I stay with her?”
“I’m not going to argue in circles with you,” Frigga said, silencing him. “Let’s keep going. Once we get to the edge of the savannah, we just have to cut through the great orchard to get you home. If we keep this pace, we’ll only have to spend two nights out in the open.”
“Who owns the great orchard?”
“Pomona,” Frigga said shortly. “But hopefully we won’t meet her.”
Theodore frowned. This Goddess was definitely sterner than Bastet. His adoptive mother had gotten in moods like this, but this seemed like the default for Frigga. Though she did seem responsive to most of his questions… “Well if I won’t get to meet her, can you at least tell me what she’s like?”
Frigga rolled her eyes, but proceeded to answer him, cautiously.
The afternoon wore away, the sun reddening as it headed towards the horizon. “I’m hungry,” Theodore said. “When are we gonna get to Pomona’s orchard?”
“Not today,” Frigga said. “We’ll keep going until the sun sets, make camp and eat then.” They continued hiking as the sun sank lower, Theodore growing eager for the end of the day and some sort of meal, before they heard something. Frigga stopped, holding her spear out warily.
“Sounds like a bunch of people marching. And maybe a… drumbeat?” Theo observed.
“That’s what I thought,” Frigga said, sounding resigned.
Over a grass-covered hillock marched a line of a dozen women, each of them clad in black armor, better-armed than Frigga with a halberd in arms and a sword worn at their sides. At the rear of the line marched a thirteenth woman, taller than the others. She had raven hair, tied back in a long ponytail. Her skin was very pale, and it was more visible than in the other women. Indeed she wore less armor, black plates covering her breasts only, as well as black steel gauntlets covering her hands, her exposed stomach showing well-defined muscles. Her skirt was made of woven steel rings, also black, though it hung short, ending above her knees. Like the other women, a shield sat across her back, a halberd in arms, and sword at her side. High above the marching line, a raven circled in the sky. It was not apparent where the drumbeat was coming from.
Frigga seized Theo, tugging him roughly to one side, out of the line of the marching women and clapping a hand over his mouth, urging silence, but this sudden motion was enough. The raven cawed in the sky, and the tall woman noticed them. “Halt!” she called, and the drumming stopped.
“Hello, Morrigan,” Frigga said coolly. She cursed their bad luck, if luck it was.
“Hail, Frigga!” Morrigan said. She had a bold voice. She looked at Theodore and smiled. “And who is your young charge? A man in the realm of the Goddesses?” Theo smiled back at being called a man.
“Ever you play games, Morrigan,” Frigga said, her voice now colder still. “Is it not the way of the Warrior to state her intentions clearly?”
“So you’re… the Goddess of War?” Theo asked, interrupting Peace.
“An observant young man,” Morrigan replied. “A good quality in an aspiring fighter. And no, sister,” she added, looking back to Frigga. “If I had intentions towards your charge, I would have brought the entire Expeditionary Force. Perhaps I yet will, if you intend on taking him back to your halls?”
“He is bound to leave,” Frigga said. “His presence shall not disturb our age-old peace.”
“All is well, then,” Morrigan said, as if that settled the matter. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t march together for a time.”
“You should just be on your way,” Frigga said.
“Awh, seriously? It sounds like fun!” Theodore interjected. “When’ll I get a chance like this again?”
Frigga frowned, considering the danger. Though Morrigan was right, it would be hard for her to steal Theodore away with only twelve of her soldiers on hand, especially when they were still in Bastet’s territory, where Morrigan’s power was diminished as an uninvited guest. At last she nodded. “But only until nightfall, then you will return to the moors.”
“Alright!” Theo cheered.
“Come, young warrior,” Morrigan said with mock reverence. She snapped her fingers, and a short spear appeared in her free hand, of perfect height for Theo. “You’ll lead the column.”
Theo grinned in excitement as he took his place at the front of Morrigan’s warriors. Morrigan returned to the rear of the column, and Frigga took up position right next to her, to be sure of War’s good faith.
The march began anew, proceeding now in the same direction that Frigga had been headed. Theo tried his best to pay attention to the rhythm of the other women, to the cadence of their steps to make sure that he could keep time. Soon enough, however, he realized that he could keep time if he just paid attention to the drumbeat, which rolled loudly, keeping the column in line. Yes… all the young soldier had to do was listen and the beat would guide him.
The two sisters got along uneasily. In an ideal world, only one needed to exist. War could exist as a constant state of being, provided that the generals were wise in use of their forces and not wasteful. Peace, likewise, could be eternal if queens and ministers ruled justly. In reality, however, they needed each other. War was sometimes needed to achieve peace, and peace to bring an end to war so that warriors could fight again.
So it was that Frigga watched her sister closely as they marched, watching for any treachery. Morrigan simply smiled back at her as the drum continued to hammer out its beat. On they marched, and Frigga’s unease grew less, until suddenly she was seized from behind by strong arms, her spear wrenched from her grasp, and born to the ground by several of Morrigan’s warriors.
“Morrigan!” Frigga roared, struggling in the grip of the armored women. The drums continued to beat. “Theodore!”
Morrigan motioned with her spear, and the column changed direction. “Theodore!” Frigga called again. The boy did not acknowledge her, as he marched forward heedlessly.
“All’s fair in war and love, dear sister,” Morrigan said, watching Frigga grapple with a few warriors in the grass. “Have fun!” She marched on, and Frigga glanced around, seeing the glint of dozens of spears around her. Morrigan’s Expeditionary Force.
Theodore marched on, leading the small column, owned by the rhythm of the marching drum. He led the column for a few more hours, tirelessly, for the drums drove him. He never turned back, never noticed that Frigga had been left hours behind to do battle with Morrigan’s forces. Never, indeed, did he notice when the golden grasses ended, when night fell, when he left Bastet’s savannah for the first time and entered a strange land.
Morrigan’s domain was an endless moor, where rolling plains of green grass were dotted with rocky outcroppings. The grass was also damaged by the endless war games staged by Morrigan and her warriors, with broken weapons and bits of armor scattered about. Soon after they arrived in the moors, the column came upon a camp under the moonlight. A handful of warriors awaited their Goddess, having fire and food ready.
“Halt!” Morrigan called, and the drumbeat died away as Theo stopped. The column stopped as well, standing at attention behind him. He blinked heavily, and looked around.
“Hey, where’s Frigga?”
Quick as lightning, Morrigan stepped to the front of the column, looking at him severely. “Who told you to speak out of turn, soldier?”
“But I…” Theo began.
“Silence! Stand at attention when I’m talking to you!” Theo shut his mouth and snapped to attention, back straight, spear upright. “You’re sloppy,” Morrigan added, glaring down at him. “You need special training if you’re ever going to be of any use to this outfit. Come with me: double time!”
She marched to the largest tent at the center of the camp, with Theo following in perfect parade-ground form. He wanted nothing more than to obey her, to be her perfect soldier. He did not want to disappoint his Commander. He followed Morrigan into the tent, and she turned behind to draw the canvas flap closed. The interior of the tent was already lit by a small fire in the center, and Theodore cast a long shadow as he stood at attention.
“Come,” Morrigan said. She stepped over to a large bed, covered in a mat of black raven’s feathers, and took a seat. “Present arms.” Theodore stepped before her, holding out the short spear he had been given.
“Not that,” Morrigan said. With a wave of her hand, the spear vanished. “Present arms,” she said again.
Falling ever deeper under her spell, Theo now understood her wishes without clarification. He lowered his pants, exposing his erect member to the Goddess. Even under her spell, War’s alluring form had aroused the boy. “That’s better,” Morrigan said. “Good to have your weapon ready, soldier. Now for some training.”
Morrigan removed her steel gauntlets. She then undid the fastening of her skirt of black steel rings, letting it fall to the floor and leaving only a black loin cloth, which she similarly undid, exposing glistening vulva fringed in a tangle of black hair.
“A warrior first needs training if he is to finish his mission,” she said. “There is no thrill in battle if the warrior cannot endure.” She reached out with one hand and grabbed Theo’s cock, then began stroking it. Going slow at first, her smooth hands rapidly reached a crescendo, giving the boy a feeling different than anything he ever experienced.
Nor did he experience it for long. The virgin boy quickly climaxed, spurting onto Morrigan’s creamy legs. “There,” she said. “You are prepared to endure in your mission. Now,” she said, her voice growing stronger again, “are you ready to sacrifice yourself for your company?”
“Yes sir!” Theo shouted.
“Excellent,” she replied. She grabbed Theo’s limp cock, stroking it back to life. “Then come at me, soldier.”
Morrigan lay back on the bed, legs spread wide, one hand sliding open the lips of her vulva, showing a glistening vagina within. It had been an age of the world since she had done more than pleasure herself, so that even the prospect of this boy excited her, not the least because of what would follow.
Theo entered her, knowing what to do due to the influence of Morrigan’s spell. She drew her breath in a hiss, as Theo felt something even more amazing than her gentle ministrations of before. He could hear the drum in his head, telling him to keep time with his thrusts. The timing gave him guidance to give Morrigan the greatest pleasure. He felt incredible as well, an unsurpassed pleasure as he copulated with the Goddess.
His earlier orgasm allowed him to endure for quite some time, but eventually he felt the same buildup in his loins. “Ah… yes…” Morrigan moaned. “It’s coming. Cum inside me!”
Theo came again, ejaculating into the Goddess’ womanhood. Morrigan too climaxed in that instant, overwhelmed at the feeling of hot semen shooting into her for the first time in an age. Theo collapsed to his knees, while Morrigan lay back on the bed, basking in the afterglow. Luck alone was on Theodore’s side in that moment: Morrigan was not ready to conceive, the taboo remained unviolated.
In that moment, with the Goddess of War weakened in her pleasure, the tent flap flew open. A bolt of gold flew through the opening, snatching up the collapsed mortal boy, and bearing him just as swiftly from the tent.
“Truly you have some greater destiny,” Frigga said to the dazed boy in her arms. “Destiny alone has spared you from destruction. This time.”
